Only 27 percent of Americans support US strikes on Iran, with many worried about potential troop casualties and rising energy costs, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey.
Just one in four respondents backed the attacks that killed Iran’s leader, while nearly half including a quarter of Republicans felt US President Donald Trump is too quick to resort to military action.
The poll, which wrapped up Sunday, found 27 percent in favour of the strikes, 43 percent opposed, and 29 percent undecided. Roughly 90 percent of those surveyed said they had heard at least something about the strikes, which began early Saturday.
Overall, 56 percent of Americans said Trump is too willing to use force to advance US interests, a view shared by 87 percent of Democrats, 23 percent of Republicans, and 60 percent of independents.
The survey was conducted during the joint US–Israeli campaign against Iran and closed before the Pentagon confirmed the first American casualties — three service members killed and five seriously wounded.
Among Republicans, 55 percent approved of the strikes and 13 percent opposed them, but 42 percent said their support would drop if US troops in the Middle East were killed or injured.
Trump’s overall approval rating slipped slightly to 39 percent, down one point from a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in late February.
The strikes came just days before the first primaries of the US midterm elections, which will decide whether Republicans retain control of Congress. Polls consistently show that voters are more focused on the economy than foreign policy heading into the vote.
Concerns over casualties and rising oil prices
Concerns about fuel costs also weighed heavily. Forty-five percent of respondents including 34 percent of Republicans and 44 percent of independents said they would be less likely to support the Iran campaign if gas or oil prices rose.
Brent crude jumped 10 percent to about $80 a barrel in weekend trading, and analysts warned prices could climb to $100 amid the escalating conflict.
The poll gathered online responses from 1,282 adults nationwide and carries a margin of error of three percentage points.
